Coulomb explosion-induced formation of highly oriented nanoparticles on thin films of 3C-SiC by the femtosecond pulsed laser

We report the formation of highly oriented, uniform, and spherical nanoparticles of 3C-SiC as a result of Coulomb explosion during the interaction of near-infrared ultrafast laser pulses with 3C-SiC thin films grown on Si substrate. Experiments were performed at laser fluences well below the single shot, thermal modification threshold. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.